Flying High
Beyond Our Islands’ Shore
WASBE 2024 Pre-Tour Concert
23 June 2024
Esplanade Concert Hall
Music Director: Dr. Leonard Tan
Principal Guest Conductor: Dr. Timothy Reynish
Trumpet: Chong Loo Kit
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With numerous accolades to its name, the Philharmonic Wind Orchestra, also known as Phil Winds, was recently selected to perform at the prestigious WASBE 2024 Conference in Gwangju, South Korea.
For this pre-tour concert, Phil Winds is delighted to present the programme it will bring to Gwangju this July 2024. Titled Flying High – Beyond Our Islands’ Shores, the concert reflects Phil Winds’ journey beyond Singapore’s shores to the international WASBE stage. The phrase “Beyond Our Islands’ Shores” also alludes to the concert’s finale: Singaporean composer Wang Chenwei’s The Sisters’ Islands.
As Phil Winds flies high to Korea, we are proud to carry with us the music of Singaporean composers. To mark this significant overseas tour, the entire second half of the concert is dedicated to Singaporean works, including two pieces specially commissioned for this occasion: Lee Jia Yi’s betwixt and between, which pushes the boundaries of wind music, and Wang Chenwei’s new wind orchestra version of his well-loved The Sisters’ Islands. We also pay tribute to the doyen of Singaporean composers, the late Mr Leong Yoon Pin, with Day-break and Sunrise, his only work for wind orchestra.
This evening also shines a spotlight on Singaporean trumpeter Chong Loo Kit, who makes his debut with Phil Winds as a soloist. Loo Kit spent his formative musical years with Phil Winds before pursuing his studies in the United States, and is now a professional musician with the Taiwan Philharmonic. He is one of many Phil Winds musicians who have gone on to build successful musical careers.
We are also delighted to welcome back our Principal Guest Conductor, Dr Timothy Reynish, who will lead us in Luis Serrano Alarcón’s vibrant Spanish Dances. An internationally renowned authority on wind music, Dr Reynish has conducted Phil Winds for over twenty years and has been instrumental in our artistic growth. The rest of the programme will be led by Phil Winds’ Music Director, Dr Leonard Tan, who, together with his artistic team, has curated an engaging programme of six distinct sound worlds for your listening pleasure.
Programme:
Asphalt Cocktail
John Mackey
Sonata For Trumpet and Wind Ensemble
Kent Kennan
Trumpet: Chong Loo Kit
I. With Strength and Vigour
II. Rather Slowly and With Freedom
III. Moderately Fast, With Energy
Spanish Dances
Luis Serrano Alarcón
Conductor: Dr. Timothy Reynish
I. Petenera
II. Zortziko
III. Jota
Day-Break and Sunrise
Leong Yoon Pin
Betwixt and Between
Lee Jia Yi
The Sisters’ Islands
Wang Chenwei
I. Fishing Village 《渔岛》
II. Capture Of The Bridge 《抢婚》
III. Raging Waves 《怒涛》
IV. Spirit Of The Sea 《海魂》